The coffee plants are not a source of beans, but a source of customers. I don't know about you, but that strikes me as one of the most intriguing marketing plays I've seen surrounding coffee.
Exactly, it's all for show. It appeals to people. It's the same reason I grow a Jalapeño plant in my apartment window in Brooklyn, when I could get Jalapeños at any store for less money and less effort.
i guess i fail to realize how a coffee plant on a cart will attract customers... frankly, IMO, keeping a tropical plant alive in a glass box on a cart will be a lot more work then worth. they take 3-5 years before producing and grow to 6 feet in height or more.
but as i said in my original post, good luck to them.
I wouldn't be surprised if there are dwarf species that aren't used commercially. Or they could just use young plants and toss them out when they get too big or sickly.
